The champion of ESL One Cologne 2016 has been crowned

Six days of Counter-Strike action have come to an end. The grand final is done and we have crowned the new champion of ESL One Cologne 2016, winner of the ninth CS:GO major. Both SK Gaming and Team Liquid have shown their skills and kept us entertained to the maximum during the last days. However, only one of them could win it all, either defending the Major title or winning the first ever CS:GO Major for North America.

SK Gaming vs. Team Liquid

On Train, the first half was dominated by players from both sides turning the tide singlehandedly. After many great shots fired and clutches won, SK went to their CT half with a 8:7 lead. On the second half, Team Liquid stood no chance against the defence of the Brazilians, losing the first map by 7-16 to the reigning champions.

Team Liquid started of winning the T pistol round and the game started off with both teams having their fair share of the action. However, closing the first half by 10-5, SK Gaming had the upper hand and kept the momentum going into the second half. While Team Liquid we’re able to score one more round, SK kept pushing and finished their run for the second consecutive CS:GO Major title!

2016 is done, see you back next year!

Congratulations to SK Gaming. By winning their second CS:GO Major back to back, they underline once more that they are the team to beat at the moment. That’s it for 2016 from ESL One Cologne, but we won’t be gone forever. Besides many more events coming your way, mark the date for 2017, as ESL One Cologne returns next year, 7th to 9th of July. Find all the details so far on the official website.

ESL One New York 2016 will be the next stop for us. Join us on October 1st and 2nd in Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, for more CS:GO action as well as “The Brooklyn Beatdown”, our open Street Fighter V tournament!

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